Back on his feet

May 8, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
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An Australian ultra-marathon runner who was attempting to complete the 1000km Israel Trail is back in action after a foot infection forced him off the course for a week.

Richard Bowles

Richard Bowles

Richard Bowles was up and running again last Sunday and hopes to complete the course by the end of this week, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Melbourne-based runner began the trail on April 17 in Eilat but after nine days of running he was forced into a clinic near Petah Tikva with a foot infection.

During Bowles’ time in recovery Tourism Minister Uzi Landau met with him, presenting him with a certificate of goodwill in tourism.

“I hope that the temporary pause that was forced on you will enable you to get to know an important and beautiful part of Israel – not only its beautiful landscape but also the warm people within it,” Landau told Bowles. “It is an honour for us that you specifically chose the Israel Trail as a destination for your run.”

Last year, he became the first person to run the world’s largest marked trail, a 5330-kilometer route on

Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail, a journey he completed in five-and-a-half months.

Vicki Saunders had been accompanying Bowles but time constraints see her now back in Melbourne. She told J-Wire: “During 17 – 26th April – Rich ran 620km of the trail, stopping just short of Tel Aviv when he finally succumbed to a foot infection that had landed him in the emergency ward in Jerusalem.

 On doctors orders, Richard spent a week of forced rest  in Tel Aviv and Pardes Hanna, during which time Richard was invited to meet Tourism Minister Uzi Landau who awarded Richard a Tourism Goodwill Ambassador title (see attached photo, please credit to Dov of SPNI).
On Sunday 5th May, Richard hit the trail again, his feet much better but still sore, but his mind and body determined to finish the task he set out to do. He has run 210km, through incredible places such as Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Nazareth, and last night reached Mt Tabor, overlooking the Sea of Galillee.”
Richard has been supported in this final stage of the run by his sponsors Source and original support crew member (driver and logistics expert) Tsahi Grimberg.

 

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel is a partner in his run.

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